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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Real Scandal: 258,000 Veterans Lack Healthcare Because Republicans Won’t Expand Medicaid
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/22/real-scandal-258000-veterans-lack-healthcare-republicans-refuse-expand-medicaid.htmlThe Real Scandal: 258,000 Veterans Lack Healthcare Because Republicans Wont Expand Medicaid
By: Jason Easley
Thursday, May, 22nd, 2014, 12:50 pm
While Republicans are trying to blame the problems at the VA on President Obama, the real scandal is that the Republican refusal to expand Medicaid in 23 states has left 258,6000 veterans without healthcare.
According to a 2013 Urban Institute study:
Analysis of the 2008-2010 American Community Survey (ACS) indicates that 535,000 uninsured veterans and 174,000 uninsured spouses of veteransor four in 10 uninsured veterans and one in four uninsured spouseshave incomes below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and could qualify for Medicaid or new subsidies for coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Most of these uninsured414,000 veterans and 113,000 spouseshave incomes below 100 percent of FPL, and will therefore only have new coverage options under the ACA if their state expands Medicaid. However, fewer than half live in states in which the governor supports their state participating in the expansion, while the majority live in states that have chosen not to expand Medicaid or have not yet decided whether to expand. The extent to which uninsured veterans and their family members with incomes below the FPL will have access to new coverage options under the ACA will depend on whether they live in a state that adopts the Medicaid expansion.
Most of these uninsured414,000 veterans and 113,000 spouseshave incomes below 100 percent of FPL, and will therefore only have new coverage options under the ACA if their state expands Medicaid. However, fewer than half live in states in which the governor supports their state participating in the expansion, while the majority live in states that have chosen not to expand Medicaid or have not yet decided whether to expand. The extent to which uninsured veterans and their family members with incomes below the FPL will have access to new coverage options under the ACA will depend on whether they live in a state that adopts the Medicaid expansion.
Pew used the Urban Institute data, and the state by state neglect of veterans on this map:
snip//
Blaming Obama isnt going to get Republicans out of this one. For the last two years, congressional Republicans have voted against bills that would have created jobs, and provided better healthcare for our vets. House Republicans even voted to throw 170,000 veterans off of food stamps.
The great hypocrisy is that while Republicans are blaming President Obama for the VA, they refusing to provide hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families healthcare. They can wave the flag all they want, but when the rubber hits the road, Republicans have repeatedly betrayed our veterans.
It is tragic that any veteran died while waiting for care from the VA, but how many veterans are dying or losing family members because Republicans refuse to expand Medicaid?
That is a question that Republicans dont want to have to answer.
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The Real Scandal: 258,000 Veterans Lack Healthcare Because Republicans Won’t Expand Medicaid (Original Post)
babylonsister
May 2014
OP
Talking with my daughter today and she said her husband who is a veteran is not enrolled in ACA
jwirr
May 2014
#4
enough
(13,259 posts)1. I hope this becomes a defining issue in the PA governor's race. (nt)
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)3. I hope it becomes a major issue in all governors' races in states
where they won't expand Medicaid.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)2. THANK YOU! Can we send these guys home, now?
jwirr
(39,215 posts)4. Talking with my daughter today and she said her husband who is a veteran is not enrolled in ACA
through the VA. I did not know that was part of it.
Cha
(297,190 posts)5. A Disgrace that gets buried with all the LIES the sociopathic repubs spew and M$M Bury.
sheshe2
(83,751 posts)6. Yes..
The Dumfucstaions are always for the soldiers and never for the veterans. They served now screw them!
Typical that they would blame Obama.
GOTV 2014
stage left
(2,962 posts)7. K&R
I hope that for once the GOP is going to have eat its lies and mendacity. I mean you, Nikki Hayley. Obstruct and then blame Obama for the problem. God, I hate these guys!